Mandibular bone plate

Abstract

A mandibular bone plate (10) can include a body (40) that defines a bone facing surface (44), an outer surface (48) that is opposite the bone facing surface, and a plurality of bone anchor holes (52) that extend through the body from the bone facing surface to the outer surface. The body can include a chin portion (56) and first (60) and second (64) extension portions that extend from the chin portion such that the bone facing surface of the chin portion faces the inferior surface of the mandible when the mandibular bone plate is attached to the mandible and the bone facing surfaces of the first and second extension portions at least partially face the lingual surface of the mandible when the mandibular bone plate is attached to the mandible.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of affixing a bone plate to a mandible having a buccal surface, a lingual surface, and an inferior surface that extends from the lingual surface to the buccal surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 exposing the inferior and lingual surfaces of the mandible; 
 positioning a curved surface of the bone plate against the mandible such that a first portion of the curved surface abuts the inferior surface at a first location, a second portion of the curved surface abuts the inferior surface at a second location, a third portion of the curved surface abuts the inferior surface at a third location, the second portion faces laterally outward relative to the first portion, and the second portion faces away from the third portion; and 
 driving a plurality of bone anchors through the bone plate and into the mandible to thereby attach the bone plate to the mandible. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposing step comprises approaching the mandible from a submandibular surgical approach. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the bone plate against the mandible such that portions of the bone plate abut the lingual surface. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the bone plate against the mandible such that portions of the bone plate abut the lingual surface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the mandible includes a chin that defines a portion of the inferior surface, the first portion includes a chin portion, and the positioning step comprises positioning the bone plate such that the chin portion of the bone plate faces the portion of the inferior surface defined by the chin. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the positioning step comprises affixing the bone plate to the mandible such that the chin portion is spaced from the inferior surface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of bending the bone plate prior to the positioning step. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of bending the bone plate prior to the positioning step. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of shortening the bone plate. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of shortening the bone plate. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the driving step comprises driving the bone anchor through the buccal surface of the mandible and into the bone plate. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the driving step comprises driving the bone anchor through the buccal surface of the mandible and into the bone plate. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the driving step comprises driving a first bone anchor through the bone plate and into the inferior surface of the mandible and driving a second bone anchor through the bone plate and into the lingual surface of the mandible. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the driving step comprises driving a first bone anchor through the bone plate and into the inferior surface of the mandible and driving a second bone anchor through the bone plate and into the lingual surface of the mandible. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of placing a bidirectional drill guide adjacent the mandible and bone plate such that a first drill guide portion of the drill guide is adjacent the bone plate and a second drill guide portion of the drill guide is adjacent a surface of the mandible. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the mandible is the buccal surface. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching soft tissue to the bone plate. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bone plate includes a chin portion that defines a first recess and an opposed second recess, and wherein the attaching step comprises wrapping a suture around the chin portion within the first and second recesses. 
     
     
       19. A method of affixing a bone plate to a mandible having a buccal surface, a lingual surface, and an inferior surface that extends from the lingual surface to the buccal surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 exposing the inferior and lingual surfaces of the mandible; 
 positioning the bone plate against the mandible such that portions of the bone plate abut the lingual surface of the mandible; 
 attaching soft tissue to the bone plate; and 
 driving a plurality of bone anchors through the bone plate and into the mandible to thereby attach the bone plate to the mandible. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the bone plate includes a chin portion that defines a first recess and an opposed second recess, and the attaching step comprises wrapping a suture around the chin portion such that a first portion of the suture is positioned within the first recess and a second portion of the suture is positioned within the second recess.